Question
How does the balanced chemical equation below demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Mass?
2Fe2O3 + 3C -------> 4Fe + 3CO2
2Fe2O3 + 3C -------> 4Fe + 3CO2
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The balanced chemical equation \(2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{C} \rightarrow 4\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2\) illustrates the Law of Conservation of Mass by ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
To break it down:
1. **Count the Atoms in the Reactants**:
- **Iron (Fe)**:
- From \(2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3\), there are \(2 \times 2 = 4\) iron atoms.
- **Oxygen (O)**:
- From \(2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3\), there are \(2 \times 3 = 6\) oxygen atoms.
- **Carbon (C)**:
- There are \(3\) carbon atoms from \(3\text{C}\).
Total in reactants:
- **Fe**: 4
- **O**: 6
- **C**: 3
2. **Count the Atoms in the Products**:
- **Iron (Fe)**:
- From \(4\text{Fe}\), there are \(4\) iron atoms.
- **Oxygen (O)**:
- From \(3\text{CO}_2\), there are \(3 \times 2 = 6\) oxygen atoms.
- **Carbon (C)**:
- There are \(3\) carbon atoms from \(3\text{CO}_2\).
Total in products:
- **Fe**: 4
- **O**: 6
- **C**: 3
3. **Comparison**:
- In reactants: 4 Fe, 6 O, 3 C
- In products: 4 Fe, 6 O, 3 C
Since the total number of atoms for each element on the reactant side is equal to the total number of atoms for that element on the product side, this demonstrates the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. The mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products.
To break it down:
1. **Count the Atoms in the Reactants**:
- **Iron (Fe)**:
- From \(2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3\), there are \(2 \times 2 = 4\) iron atoms.
- **Oxygen (O)**:
- From \(2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3\), there are \(2 \times 3 = 6\) oxygen atoms.
- **Carbon (C)**:
- There are \(3\) carbon atoms from \(3\text{C}\).
Total in reactants:
- **Fe**: 4
- **O**: 6
- **C**: 3
2. **Count the Atoms in the Products**:
- **Iron (Fe)**:
- From \(4\text{Fe}\), there are \(4\) iron atoms.
- **Oxygen (O)**:
- From \(3\text{CO}_2\), there are \(3 \times 2 = 6\) oxygen atoms.
- **Carbon (C)**:
- There are \(3\) carbon atoms from \(3\text{CO}_2\).
Total in products:
- **Fe**: 4
- **O**: 6
- **C**: 3
3. **Comparison**:
- In reactants: 4 Fe, 6 O, 3 C
- In products: 4 Fe, 6 O, 3 C
Since the total number of atoms for each element on the reactant side is equal to the total number of atoms for that element on the product side, this demonstrates the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. The mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products.